upon the place-name (בֵּית־) אֵל (“Bethel”). It is the only time that this negative particle appears in the oracles. The verse commences on a chiastic pattern: אַל־תִּדְרְשׁוּ בֵּית־אֵל (“Do not seek Bethel”), verb followed by cultic site; וְהַגִּלְגָּל לֹא תָבֹאוּ (“Nor go to Gilgal”), cultic site followed by verb. Amos now lists the three most frequented sanctuaries35 where the people are exhorted not to go, for the Lord is neither to be sought nor to be found there. Unlike vv 4* and 6*, this